This has pretty well already been addressed, but my heat pump will actually shut off when outside temperature hits 40 degrees. My understanding is that is what it's supposed to do. All good advice regarding a little supplemental heat from small heater. However, if the heater is used too much your furnace doesn't cycle sufficiently to keep space around your holding tanks warm. Pretty important if you're "wet camping" below freezing.

" Natasha " came to us as an orphan, rather than purchased new. I didn't get all the build info or documentation I should have. I did recently email A/S to see if they may have a record of my build, reply pending.

My thermostat does have a setting for "Heat Pump" and I had it in my head it was a 13, 500, but not sure. It does cycle on & off and blows cooler air in between, kind of like the furnace.

Shame on me, I thought the heat pump was the primary heat when plugged into shore power and the little furnace was what was used when boondocking.

Why shouldn't all the appliances work off the shore power when connected and not be dependent on using your batteries or propane, HW heater too......

I'm sure this is discussed elsewhere, but while we are on the subject......
Just what kind of " little ceramic heaters " are you folks using ?

Currently 54 degrees and raining. Thanx to everyone who chimed in here and a BIG Hello to my new friends from NH ! Stay warm !

You are asking too much out of the heat pump/strip if installed. I would say anywhere below 50 it can't keep up. I will use the furnace if it drops below 50 especially if it gets down into the 30's the heat pump does not heat the tanks. The furnace does.
Setting the Thermostat to 99 will not make the heat pump put out more heat. It just tells it to shut off at 99. it only knows on of off.

I have the heat strip in my '76 and felt it blowing cold sometimes . I think what is happening is that the heat strip is controled by the thermostat , but also by a thermal or timed shut off . In other words the heat stip is cycling on and off but the fan runs continuous , so it feels like it is not working sometimes . Anyone else notice this ?

With the automatic switchover to furnace, I find the heat pump in my Classic 28 entirely adequate right down into the low 30s where it switches over to furbace. We set the thermostat at 70 to 72 and stay comfortable.

I am on 30a power at the storage yard and I leave the heat pump on all the time in the winter with the thermostat set at 40. I have been using a little propane during our cold spell, sp I know that the switchover works properly,

I was working in the trailer this morning in the mid-30s. The trailer interior was at 40 when I arrived. While I used a ceramic heater and the ehat pump to initially help warm the cold-soaked interior, I soon cut off the ceramic heater in favor of the heat pump alone. It was defrosting about every 15 minutes, but kept me comfortable in a T-shirt.

I spend a lot of time in the trailer when it is cold out. I have found that the most efficient heat is the furnace and a small ceramic heater in the living area (only running when we are in the trailer).

The importance in using this solution is to remember than in temperatures below freezing you need to use both sources of heat and not rely exclusively on the small heater. Use of the furnace in newer trailer will protect water lines and some of the holding tank system from freezing. An independent heater cannot direct air to these areas.

I'm sure this is discussed elsewhere, but while we are on the subject......
Just what kind of " little ceramic heaters " are you folks using ?

I have a "Pelonis" ceramic heater in the trailer, one in my workshop, and one at home. I think they are the best made and I trust their tip-over protection.

I use the one in the trailer along with the heat pump for initial warm-up and I place it on the bathroom counter while showering. It quickly warms the bathroom and it feels real good to step out of the shower into the stream of warm air.

I have the heat strip in my '76 and felt it blowing cold sometimes . I think what is happening is that the heat strip is controled by the thermostat , but also by a thermal or timed shut off . In other words the heat stip is cycling on and off but the fan runs continuous , so it feels like it is not working sometimes . Anyone else notice this ?

I think you're right. If the thermostat is set near the ambient temperature, eventually the fan will shut off. I don't know whether its a thermal cool down, or just a timer, but i suspect its thermal.

The rating on the heat strip is 1530 watts, or 5600 Btuh. Take your pick, I don't know which is more correct.